Ammunition magazine configured for automatic ejection

ABSTRACT

The present invention includes modifications to a standard magazine and magazine follower to effect automatic ejection of an ammunition magazine from a weapon, once the last round has left the magazine.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention is generally related to ammunition magazines for automatic or semi-automatic weapons. In particular, the present invention is directed to a modification in an ammunition magazine to facilitate automatic ejection.

BACKGROUND ART

The purpose of modern automatic weapons, whether used in semi-automatic, or full automatic modes, is to provide fast, accurate placement of rounds downrange at a desired target. Speed and precision are the objectives when using such arms as the M4 (described in the cited operations manual) in one of its many variations and embodiments. A number of these embodiments are listed in the subject cited operations manual. However, there are many types of magazine-fed weapons with similar characteristics, and the discussion of conventional art is not limited to the M4 family.

The major difficulty hindering the rapid fire of such weapons on a designated downrange target is the reloading cycle. The pauses or “downtime” occurring during the reloading cycle not only hinders the effective application of fire on a given target but also exposes the weapon operator to increased danger since he cannot protect himself during those pauses. If the weapon operator is engaged in competitive target shooting, the extra steps and the time expended for the reloading operations, may put the weapon operator at a competitive disadvantage.

There have been many techniques for dealing with this drawback. These include larger magazines, such as large “banana” magazines, and connecting magazines together so that it is easier to lay hands on the new magazine once the old one is expended. In many cases, infantry tactics mandate staggered firing and reloading cycles so that weapon operators might protect themselves more effectively during the pause caused by the reloading cycle. While some of these techniques have been moderately effective, they are in general complicated, and do not substantially decrease the pause in firing required by the reloading cycle. In particular, none of these techniques encompass the automatic ejection of the spent magazine from a weapon such as the M4 (and its many variations and derivations from the original AR15/M16).

When using the M4 (or one of its many variations), for example, it is necessary for the final round to be fired, and for the weapon operator to press a release button with one hand while pulling the spent magazine out with the other. Then, the operator could drop the spent magazine, grab a new (i.e., loaded) magazine and slide it into the magazine receiver or magazine well of the weapon. The operator would then have to take the added step of pulling back on the bolt to put a new round in the firing chamber or, in the case of most automatic weapons, press a bolt release to automatically load the next round, before firing again.

Under the pressure of combat use, “anything that can go wrong will go wrong” during this reloading pause. Accordingly, it is extremely important to make this pause as short as possible while reducing the number of physical movements that the operator of the weapon must carry out to effect reloading. While competitive rapid-fire shooting does not embody the stresses of combat, the desire for rapid, accurate fire is still present. Because of this, competitive shooters do everything that can be done to limit the number of operations to be conducted for reloading, and to limit the time that the weapon is off target.

Accordingly, a fast and efficient simplification of the reloading cycle is needed to reduce the number of steps that the weapon operator must take during the reloading process for the ultimate purpose of reducing the time necessary for the process. Moreover, automation of this process will benefit the weapon operator, especially if he/she is in a combat situation and/or time limited completion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a primary goal of the present invention to facilitate the reloading operation of an M4 rifle or one of its many variations.

It is another object of the present invention to eliminate any changes to the weapon while accommodating the present invention.

It is a further object of the present invention to facilitate the operation of the present invention with minimum alterations to standard weapons magazines.

It is an additional object of the present invention to reduce the number of physical operations or steps that a weapons operator must carry out when undergoing the reloading operation.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an automatic release for the ammunition magazine once the last round from the magazine enters the weapon's firing chamber.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide an automatic magazine release system that provides for easy, automatic removal of the magazine from the weapon.

It is again an additional object of the present invention to provide an automatic magazine release system that can be accommodated by modification to an otherwise standard magazine follower.

It is again another object of the present invention to provide an effective automatic magazine release system that can be facilitated by an innovative modification to a standard magazine housing.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an automatic magazine release system that can be adapted to a wide range of magazine-fed automatic and semi-automatic weapons.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a system for removing ammunition magazines, requiring fewer steps and movements by the weapon operator.

It is still an additional object of the present invention to provide an ammunition magazine release system that allows the weapon operator to remain on target.

These and other goals and objects of the present invention are achieved by an ammunition magazine configured for weapons designed to received ammunition magazines, where each of the weapons has an ammunition magazine catch to hold the ammunition magazine within a magazine receiver or, more commonly known as, magazine well. The ammunition magazine has an outer casing and a follower within the outer casing. The outer casing includes at least one aperture in a side wall of the casing, where the aperture is positioned to align with the ammunition magazine catch in the weapon. The follower includes a spring-driven prong positioned to extend through the aperture when the follower reaches a predetermined position within the ammunition magazine casing.

Another embodiment of the present invention includes a method for automatically ejecting a spent ammunition magazine from a weapon configured to receive an ammunition magazine. The method includes the steps of expending rounds from the ammunition magazine into the weapon until the last one of the rounds leaves the magazine. Simultaneous to the last round leaving the ammunition magazine, a spring-driven prong is extended perpendicularly through a side wall of the ammunition magazine so that the spring-driven prong activates a magazine catch mechanism to release the ammunition magazine from the weapon. The released magazine will then fall from the magazine well.

A third embodiment of the present invention is directed to an interactive system for automatically removing an ammunition magazine from a weapon. The system includes a magazine receiver or well configured to hold an external magazine and to provide access between the ammunition magazine and a firing chamber of the weapon for rounds in the ammunition magazine. The ammunition magazine includes a casing with a holding lip arranged on a predetermined side of the ammunition magazine. A manual magazine release mechanism interfaces with the holding lip to hold the ammunition magazine casing within the magazine receiver. An aperture is positioned adjacent to the holding lip on the ammunition magazine casing. A spring-driven follower is arranged in the ammunition magazine casing and is movable therethrough. The spring-driven follower includes an inner structure or body having a concavity. A spring-loaded prong is arranged within the concavity to extend through the aperture when the follower moves to a predetermined position within the magazine casing, i.e., preferably when the last round leaves the magazine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings included herewith are for the purpose of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the instant invention, for which reference should be made to the claims appended hereto. Other features, objects and advantages of this invention will become clear from the following more detailed description made with reference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the type of conventional weapon in which the present invention can operate.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a portion of the weapon depicted in FIG. 1 identifying those parts of the conventional weapon that interact with the present invention.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a conventional outer casing for an ammunition magazine.

FIG. 3B is a perspective depiction of the interior parts of a convention ammunition magazine.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a conventional ammunition magazine, depicting multiple rounds or shells contained within the outer casing, and a mechanism on the outer casing for interfacing with the weapon of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a partial side view of the conventional weapon, opposite of FIG. 1, depicting the lines for cutaways for sectional views.

FIG. 6 is the sectional view taken at the position depicted in FIG. 5, illustrating an empty conventional magazine held in an operating position within a magazine well of the weapon.

FIG. 6A is a detailed or magnified view of part of FIG. 6, emphasizing the details of the upper portion of the magazine follower and the magazine catch of the weapon interfacing with the magazine.

FIG. 7 is a top sectional view along the lines depicted in FIG. 5, including an empty conventional magazine contained within the weapon.

FIG. 7A is a magnified or detailed view of a portion of FIG. 7, depicting parts of the conventional magazine follower.

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of a magazine follower modified in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the assembled magazine follower modified in accordance with the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 8, depicted in a manner to operate the magazine catch of a weapon containing the magazine.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a magazine modified in accordance with the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, and containing rounds or ammunition shells.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a magazine modified in accordance with the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, depicted in a configuration in which all of the rounds or ammunition shells have been expended from the magazine.

FIG. 12 is the same view as FIG. 6, but in this case, depicting the ammunition magazine modified in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, where the magazine still contains four rounds.

FIG. 12A is an enlarged view of part of FIG. 12 depicting the magazine modified in accordance with the same embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 13 is the same sectional view as FIG. 6, but now containing the ammunition magazine modified in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, and in which all rounds or shells have been expended from the magazine.

FIG. 13A is a magnified or detailed view of a portion of FIG. 13.

FIG. 14 is a detailed view as depicted in FIG. 13, in which the invention has tripped the magazine release, and the magazine is able to move downward by gravity so as to fall out of the magazine well of the weapon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is directed to modifications of various ammunition magazines that are used in weapons such as the M4, and its many variations, dating from the AR15/M16 to the present embodiments. Submitted as prior art of this application is the instruction manual for the Bushmaster family of weapons. For illustrative purposes, parts of the Bushmaster manual dated 2005 have been incorporated with the drawings of the present invention, namely FIGS. 1-7A, as background for the application to better describe the present invention to such firearms.

The present invention is directed to an interactive system between a weapon and ammunition magazine modified from the prior art. While the modifications to the magazine depicted in the drawings have been made to specifically fit the M4 family of weapons, other magazine-fed weapons can also be adapted by incorporating the same modifications to the ammunition magazine in accordance with the present invention. In particular, the weapon to benefit from the present invention will preferably include a manual magazine release mechanism. Alterations to the ammunition magazine can then be made to correspond to the location of the magazine catch and release mechanism on the weapon. The M4 Bushmaster is used in the present application because of the easy adaptability of the present invention to this particular weapon. However, the present invention is not limited thereto.

For purposes of clarity, only those parts of the weapon that interact as part of the present invention are designated. The other parts of the weapon are depicted in the drawings, but are not designated since they do not interact as part of the inventive system. For example, in conventional art FIG. 1, illustrative weapon 100 has only a limited number of parts identified. These are the magazine receiver or well 110, magazine release button 101, and external ammunition magazine 10. The external magazine 10 is depicted as being within magazine receiver/well 110 for purposes of operating the inventive interactive system.

Conventional art FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a portion of the weapon lock that is most relevant to the present invention. The parts depicted therein are found in a conventional M4 rifle. Those parts that relate to the interactive system include magazine release button 101 and magazine catch spring 102. Magazine release catch 104 is connected to the magazine release button 101 through an aperture 121 in the weapon block or housing 120. The magazine catch 104 includes a holding extension 105 which interfaces with the external magazine 10 (not shown in FIG. 2). It is noted that the present invention eliminates the need to manually operate magazine release button 101.

In normal operation, the weapon operator must manually press magazine release button 101 to operate the magazine catch 104 and thus the holding extension 105 that holds the magazine to the weapon. Once the magazine release button is pressed, it is possible to pull ammunition magazine 10 from the magazine well 110. Both of these conventional operations require extra movement on the part of the weapon operator, and as a result, the weapon cannot be held on target. Further, an often unacceptable span of time is needed before the weapon can be put back on target, due to the fact that both of the weapon operator's hands are necessary to carry out the removal of the spent ammunition magazine 10.

A conventional ammunition magazine is depicted in FIGS. 3A, 3B and 4. The magazine 10 depicted is adapted specifically for the M4 weapon. Accordingly, the inventive modifications for the interactive system in this illustration are depicted for this particular type of ammunition magazine, but the same concept can be applied to other weapon types with similarly configured magazines with modest changes and equivalencies. Moreover, the conventional ammunition magazine of FIGS. 3A and 3B includes a casing 11 and a follower 14. A base plate 12 is provided to support a spring 13, which drives follower 14. At the top of follower 14 is an upper support 15 to hold rounds, and a spacer 151 so that a double row of off-set rounds can be placed in magazine 10. This is best depicted in FIG. 4, where the double row of rounds 300 is vertically off-set from each other. This off-set configuration is shown more clearly in FIGS. 12 and 12A. Upper curl 111 of casing 11 keeps the rounds 300 in place and positioned to enter the firing chamber of the weapon 100.

The conventional casing 11 of ammunition magazine 10 also includes an aperture 16 and a lip 17. Both of these structures are sized and located to interact with holding extension 105 of magazine catch 104. This is the structure that conventionally holds the magazine within the magazine receiver 110 of weapon 100. When the operator pushes the magazine release button 101, the entire magazine catch is moved outward away from the magazine well 110 (i.e., the magazine holding extension 105 is pushed away from catch lip 17 on the magazine). This action allows the operator to then pull out magazine 10 from the magazine receiver 110.

Conventional art FIG. 5 depicts a side view of weapon 100 as viewed from the opposite side of the view in FIG. 1. The purpose of this figure is to better illustrate and locate lines 6-6 and 7-7 for the sectional views of FIGS. 6, 6A, and 7, 7A, respectively.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view depicting ammunition magazine 10 contained in magazine receiver/well 110 at a time when the magazine is empty. This is depicted by the location of upper support 15 of follower 14. Spring 13 is fully extended. It should be noted that holding extension 105 is in place over lip 17 (shown in FIG. 10), and extending into aperture 16 of magazine 10. This interaction is enlarged and more closely depicted in FIG. 6A. In the conventional art, even with the ammunition magazine 10 empty, it is firmly held in place by holding extension 105 until the magazine release button 101 is pushed by the weapon user. This same arrangement is depicted in conventional art FIGS. 7 and 7A. In these Figures, the entire body of magazine catch 104 is clearly depicted in a manner which will keep holding extension 105 in position against catch lip 17 to hold the ammunition magazine 10 in position after the last round (300 in FIG. 4) has been expended from the ammunition magazine 10 and into weapon 100.

FIG. 8 depicts a follower 14 modified in accordance with the present invention. Conventional followers typically have spacing arms 147, 148, 149 to properly maintain the follower 14 in position within magazine casing 11. These spacer arms are necessary in conventional weapons to prevent the upper support 15 from being pushed too far into magazine casing 11, and ensure that the follower 14 is guided properly in its upward movement as the rounds 300 are expended. Even if a conventional follower is not provided with spacing arms 147, 148, 149, these could be added to facilitate installation of the structure that facilitates the present invention.

Inset body 141, as depicted in FIG. 8, is inserted between spacer arms 147 and 148. Inset body 141 contains a concavity 142 in which a drive spring 144 and release prong 143 are placed. Release prong 143 extends through face plate 145, which is attached to the insert body 141 by means of screws 146 a, 146 b, 146 c and 146 d or other securing fastener. The assembled version of the modified follower 14 is depicted in FIG. 9.

During the normal operation of magazine 10, spring 13 pushes the follower 14 upwards as rounds 300 are expended. During this time, release prong 143 is held back against the tension of drive spring 144 by the interior of magazine casing 11. This relationship is depicted in FIGS. 12 and 12A, in which rounds 300 are still within ammunition magazine 10. FIG. 12A is a magnified partial view of FIG. 12, which depicts a sectional view shown along the lines 6-6 of conventional art FIG. 5. It would be clear to one skilled in this particular technology that other than insert piece 141, containing drive spring 144 and release prong 143, the follower 14 operates in the same manner as a conventional follower in a conventional ammunition magazine 10.

In order for the release prong 143 to operate interactively with the relevant parts of weapon 100, it is necessary for the preferred embodiment of the present invention include certain modifications to the ammunition magazine 10 and casing 11. FIGS. 10 and 11 depict the necessary modifications. In FIG. 10, rounds 300 are still within ammunition magazine 10. In FIG. 11, the last round 300 has been expended from ammunition magazine 10, and the upper support 15 is at the very top of the ammunition magazine casing 11 with convex spacer 151 resting against upper curl 111 of casing 11. The operation of the ammunition magazine casing 11 that constitutes part of the present invention includes the use of conventional catch aperture 16, through which release prong 143 extends when all of the rounds 300 are expended from ammunition magazine 10, as depicted in FIG. 11.

To be clear, during the operation of the weapon and the movement of follower 14 within casing 11, release prong 143 is held back by the interior of casing 11. This is depicted in FIGS. 12 and 12A. Once the last round 300 is expended from the ammunition magazine 10, release prong 143 extends through catch aperture 16, and by virtue of the bias provided by drive spring 144, release prong 143 presses against holding extension 105 of weapon 100. The holding extension 105 holds the magazine with the aid of lip 17. The present invention includes release prong 143 which pushes holding extension 105 back away from catch aperture 16 and catch lip 17 to automatically release the magazine. This occurs when all of rounds 300 are expended from the magazine, and the magazine follower 14 is in the position depicted in FIGS. 13 and 13A.

Once release prong 143 has pushed back the magazine catch holding extension 105, as depicted in FIGS. 13 and 13A, the ammunition magazine 10 begins to slide downward due to the force of gravity as shown in FIG. 14. Because the magazine catch body 104 is spring biased, there is likelihood that magazine catch holding extension 105 will press back against the magazine since it is no longer being forced outward by release prong 143, which has dropped below the plane of the magazine catch holding extension 105, as depicted in FIG. 14. In order to prevent magazine catch holding extension 105 from interfering with the downward movement of magazine 10, the ammunition magazine casing 11 is preferably modified to include a small stop 19 and a slot or depression 18 in the casing 11. This slot or depression 18 is inset of sufficient depth so that magazine catch holding extension 105 cannot extend, contact and exert force/friction against the magazine casing 11, which would hinder the drop of the ammunition magazine 10 from the weapon 100. This relationship is depicted best in FIG. 14, in which it is clear that magazine catch holding extension 105 has insufficient extension to contact and grab any part of the magazine 10, once the magazine catch holding extension is aligned within the slot or depression 18.

Moreover, with this invention, it will be appreciated that the weapon operator does not have to press magazine release button 101, or pull ammunition magazine 10 from the magazine receiver 110. Rather, the entire operation is made automatic by the present invention as described. Once the last round 300 leaves ammunition magazine 10, whether this last round 300 has been fired or not, the automatic release and drop of the ammunition magazine 10 will occur without any efforts on the part of the weapon operator. This means that the weapon operator can keep both hands in firing position and maintain the sighting of the weapon downrange.

To reload, the weapon operator need only grab a new ammunition magazine 10 and “slam it home” into the magazine receiver 110. This can be done while the weapon operator maintains the sighting of the weapon downrange.

It should be appreciated that the present invention constituted by inset body 141, which includes release prong 143 and drive spring 144, can be provided to a conventional follower 14 as a retrofit. Likewise, conventional ammunition magazine 10 can be modified to create slot 18 and stop 19. As such, the present invention can be incorporated without substantial retooling by the primary weapons manufacturing facilities. Even if such retooling occurs, these are minor modifications to the ammunition magazine casing 11 with the inset body 141 being a separate piece that can be added to follower 14 at a later time. The addition of the present invention need not impose a substantial manufacturing burden.

While the preferred embodiments have been described by way of example, the present invention is not limited thereto. Rather, the present invention should be understood to include any and all limitations, modifications, variations, embodiments, derivations, and adaptations that would occur to one skilled in this technology after understanding the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention should be limited only by the breadth of the following claims. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An ammunition magazine configured for weapons designed to receive ammunition magazines, where each said weapon has an ammunition magazine catch to hold said ammunition magazine within a magazine well of said weapon, said ammunition magazine having an outer casing and a spring driven follower within said outer casing, wherein said outer casing comprises: a) at least a first aperture in a side wall of said outer casing, said aperture being positioned to align with said ammunition magazine catch in said weapon; and, b) wherein said follower comprises a spring-driven prong positioned to extend through said first aperture when said follower reaches a predetermined position within said ammunition magazine casing.
 2. The ammunition magazine of claim 1, further comprising: c) a base plate positioned opposite said magazine well and supporting a drive spring arranged to drive said follower through said outer casing of said ammunition magazine.
 3. The ammunition magazine of claim 2, wherein said outer casing further comprises a lip adjacent to said first aperture, said lip being positioned to interface with said ammunition magazine catch.
 4. The ammunition magazine of claim 3, wherein said outer casing further comprises a sloping surface arranged between said first aperture and the top edge of said outer casing, wherein said sloping surface is biased away from said ammunition magazine catch as the sloping surface extends from said first aperture to said upper edge of said outer casing.
 5. The ammunition magazine of claim 4, wherein said sloping surface has a width at least the width of said ammunition magazine catch.
 6. The ammunition magazine of claim 5, wherein said outer casing further comprises a stop structure above said first aperture, and adjacent to said sloping surface.
 7. The ammunition magazine of claim 6, wherein said follower further comprises a housing having a concavity holding said spring-driven prong and a second spring.
 8. The ammunition magazine of claim 7, wherein said follower further comprises a plate over said aperture, said plate having a second aperture configured for said spring-driven prong to pass therethrough.
 9. A method for automatically ejecting a spent ammunition magazine from a weapon configured to receive said ammunition magazine, said method comprising the steps of: a) expending rounds from said ammunition magazine into said weapon until a last one of said rounds leaves said ammunition magazine; and, b) simultaneous to said last round leaving said ammunition magazine, extending a spring-driven prong perpendicular through a side wall of said ammunition magazine, wherein said spring-driven prong operates a manual magazine catch mechanism to release said ammunition magazine from said weapon.
 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of: c) moving a sloped surface opposite said manual magazine catch mechanism wherein said magazine catch mechanism does not hinder said ammunition magazine from freely dropping from said weapon.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein before said last round is expended from said ammunition magazine, said spring driven prong is held in place by the interior of said side wall of said ammunition magazine.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein said manual magazine catch mechanism engages said aperture and a lip beneath said aperture until said last round leaves said ammunition magazine.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein said ammunition magazine freely drops from said weapon without operator activation of said manual magazine catch mechanism, upon said last round leaving said ammunition magazine.
 14. An interactive system for automatically removing an ammunition magazine from a magazine well of an automatic/semi-automatic weapon, said system comprising: a) a magazine well configured to hold an external ammunition magazine, and provide access between the ammunition magazine and a firing chamber of said weapon for rounds in said ammunition magazine; b) an ammunition magazine casing with an aperture arranged on a predetermined side of said ammunition magazine casing; c) a manual magazine release mechanism positioned to interface with said aperture lip to hold said ammunition magazine casing within said magazine well; d) said aperture being positioned adjacent to a holding lip on said ammunition magazine casing; e) a spring driven follower arranged in said ammunition magazine casing, and movable therethrough, said spring driven follower comprising an inner structure having a concavity; and, f) a spring-loaded prong being arranged in said concavity to extend through said aperture when said follower moves to a predetermined position within said magazine casing.
 15. The interactive system of claim 14, wherein said spring-loaded prong automatically exerts sufficient force to operate said manual magazine release mechanism without action by a weapon operator.
 16. The interactive system of claim 15, wherein said ammunition magazine comprises a sloped surface positioned above said aperture and opposite manual magazine release mechanism.
 17. The interactive system of claim 16, wherein said sloped surface is configured to be further away from said manual magazine catch as the sloped surface extends between said aperture and the top of said ammunition magazine.
 18. The interactive system of claim 17, wherein said ammunition magazine drops freely from said magazine well upon a last round of ammunition leaving said magazine. 